September 02, 2012

Scan on Tuesday will tell Witten, Cowboys if he can play against Giants, but he is not optimistic

Tight end Jason Witten will have a scan of his spleen on Tuesday before the Cowboys leave for New York to see if he has a chance of playing.

If the scan shows he can play, Witten said he will play – no ifs, ands or buts.

“If I get cleared, I’m playing,” he said Sunday at Valley Ranch. “It’s the only way, I believe, you can approach the game. I think people know that’s the only way I’m playing. This is what you play for. It’s an opportunity, especially where we’re at and how much work we’ve put into this situation.”

But Witten is sober about the chance of a good result. Asked if he is optimistic, he said, “I mean, I wouldn’t say optimistic, just because as of right now, it’s been a tough challenge to get to that point. So I wouldn’t say I was optimistic. Optimistic would be if it was in my hands and my control. So no, from that standpoint.”

Witten is aware that being cleared to play just 22 days after suffering a lacerated spleen is asking a lot.

“I think it healed quicker than people thought,” he said. “But ultimately, medically, it’s a quick turnaround. You look it up. A lot of times, those injuries are a lot longer than this. So I think it’s just they’ve got to feel comfortable on seeing what I’ve done. That’s why I’ve really tired to push it myself to try to speed up, and – I don’t want to say convince, because ultimately, it’s in the scan – but put myself in every position to get that done.”

Witten said he realizes he could still benefit from more rest, even if the scan detects no problems.

“That’s it. We’ve got to get the right guy to look at it and evaluate it and ultimately, they’re going to handle that the right way,” Witten said. “I’m doing everything I can, and if I get that call, don’t worry I’ll be out there.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Witten moved so well in practice, the Cowboys opted to see what the scan shows.

“Had he not been practicing well, had he not been feeling good, then that would have dictated probably doing that CAT scan, but the way he’s doing right now, you probably do something like that,” Jones said.